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XVIII : Silence Speaks
Last Updated:
2025-02-05 20:42:38
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My tiny apartment was illuminated by the dim light of a study lamp while the sound of rustling pencils on paper filled the room. I sat on the floor with my legs crossed, leaning back against the sofa with a stack of books and an open laptop. The film theory course always immersed me in lengthy, exhausting analyses, but I had to finish it before the deadline.Beside me, Aaric sat on the carpet, half leaning back against the sofa, focused entirely on the television screen. His hands were nimbly moving the game controller, and his brow furrowed slightly as he pressed the buttons with incredible speed. The sounds of gunfire and sound effects from the game being played filled my tiny apartment, contrasting my study's silence. I glanced over at him, noticing how the tip of his tongue poked out slightly from his lips as he concentrated. Aaric might be known for being cold and severe out there, but in moments like this, he was just a man obsessed with games like a child."Why are you still
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The air inside the car felt cooler than the Los Angeles heat outside. I leaned my head against the window, letting the air conditioner wash over my slightly sweaty skin after a busy day of shifting schedules."I don't understand how you survive with such a busy schedule," Megan commented when she opened the lunch box and handed it to me.I accepted the box lazily, opened the lid, and sighed softly as the warm aroma of chicken katsu and sauce greeted my nose."I don't get it either," I muttered, taking a piece of chicken and popping it into my mouth.Megan chuckled. "At least eat before you pass out. I don't want to deal with Ashley if you collapse halfway through."I just mumbled in response, too tired to reply with anything longer.I let my mind drift momentarily while enjoying my lunch in the quietly moving car. I should feel satisfied with how things are going. A tight schedule means my career is back on track, but something inside my chest still feels... tight.The world kept spi
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As soon as I sat in the passenger seat, I leaned my head against the window, ignoring how expensive the interior of this car was and how comfortable the seats were. I was too tired to think about anything, let alone engage Aaric in the usual verbal sparring.The car drove smoothly out of the studio area, the street lights of Los Angeles creating long shadows along the dashboard. For the first few minutes, Aaric didn't say anything. He just focused on the road with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting casually on his armrest.I closed my eyes, hoping he would leave me alone for the rest of the road."Who is he?"But, of course, that was impossible.Aaric's voice is calm, but I could feel the hidden interest behind it.I opened my eyes slowly, glancing up at him. "Who?"He didn't answer immediately, but I could see how his jaw tightened slightly before he finally spoke again."The guy you were with."I blinked. I leaned back into the chair, looking at him calmly. "Daniel
Last Updated : 2025-02-09Stealing My Sister's Fiancee Defying the Devil
My heart beating fast, my breathing getting heavy.No, I won't.I will not stay here.I looked at Aaric, who was still standing calmly as if he knew I would take all this for granted. He was dead wrong.Without thinking, I turned around and started running towards the highway. My feet quickly hit the small cobblestone street, the coastal wind hitting my face, and my hair flew wildly. The highway was a bit far from here, but if I could be fast enough, I could call Megan or Ashley to pick me up.I heard footsteps behind me.Of course.I bit my lip, dashing even though my heels were stinging the skin on my feet. I knew Aaric. He wouldn't let anything get out of his control, and I had just done the thing he disliked the most. Defying him.His footsteps were getting closer.I had almost reached the end of this private road when something strong gripped my waist. I let out a small cry, my body lifted off the ground in an instant. "Let go of me!"He didn't answer.Within seconds, I was slung
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I stepped out of the room, not intending to dress up.I don't care.It's just dinner. In my house. Or, rather, the house that Aaric forced to be my house.So, I would dress as comfortably as possible, without caring if he liked it or not.I wore loose black boxers and an oversized T-shirt that fell past my thighs. My long, thick, brown hair was tangled up on top of my head, a few strands falling around my face, but I didn't bother to tidy it up.In addition, I wore round glasses that I rarely wore except when I was too lazy to put in contact lenses. My vision was a little myopic, and tonight, I chose not to try any more than necessary.With lazy steps, I descended to the first floor.This house is too big, and I haven't even explored everything yet. But at least I know where the kitchen and dining room are.When I arrived at the dining room, I found Aaric sitting there.He wore an expensive-looking black sweater and dark jeans that sat perfectly on his body. His usually neatly styled h
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Stealing My Sister's Fiancee LIX : Shadows & Stolen Kisses
The night air cut through my skin, but I barely felt it. The alcohol still coursing through my veins created a thin fog in my mind, making everything feel slower, blurrier—bolder.Aaric stood so close, his breath grazing my skin, the warm scent of light tobacco, wood, and something unmistakably him mingling in the air. His eyes locked with mine, filled with something that should’ve made me step back, but instead, my feet stayed rooted to the spot. My heart was pounding so loudly, I was sure he could hear it.“You’re too quiet, De Cruz,” he murmured, his voice low and almost trembling between us. “You usually have something sharp to say.”I stared at him, my mind drifting somewhere far off. Part of me knew I should resist, should say something sarcastic, should do what I always did—get under his skin. But the alcohol, the cold night, and his face so close messed with my brain.Instead of answering, I only tilted my head slightly, noticing the sharp line of his jaw beneath the dim lig
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Music thumped from inside the rented house filled with college students. Colorful lights flickered on the living room ceiling, which had been turned into an improvised dance floor. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, expensive perfume, and something vaguely sweet—probably the result of someone getting a little too creative with their mixed drinks.I walked in with Elle and Joy, weaving past a group of students laughing loudly while playing beer pong at the kitchen table. The sound of conversations mixed with the music, creating the typical chaos of a college party that I knew would last until morning.“I need a drink,” Joy declared determinedly, disappearing toward the kitchen without waiting for a reply.Elle glanced at me, giving my outfit an approving once-over. “I knew you’d look amazing in something a little more fitted.”I just snorted. I wasn’t the type to dress up too much for parties. Tonight, I was wearing a slightly tighter black T-shirt than usual, paired with my
Stealing My Sister's Fiancee LVII : A Door to the Unknown
I looked up. Aaric was staring at me, one eyebrow slightly raised, curious. "Why that face?" he continued. "Like someone just told you that you won the lottery, but you're not sure if you actually want the money." I opened my mouth to respond, but then closed it again. Honestly, I had no idea how to explain this feeling. So, I just put my phone back on the table, faced my laptop screen, and tried to act like that email hadn't just turned my entire life upside down. Aaric wasn't buying it. "Come on, De Cruz. I can see that expression from across the room," he said, leaning in closer. "What is it? A bad grade? A call from the FBI?" I sighed, finally giving in. "If I told you I just got offered a modeling contract from one of the biggest fashion houses in the world, would you laugh or be shocked?" Aaric was silent for a few seconds. Then, the corner of his mouth lifted. "Honestly? Not shocked." I frowned. "Why?" He shrugged like the answer was obvious. "You know why." I didn't
Stealing My Sister's Fiancee LVI : Audition Fever
Sunday morning crept in slowly. The sun was just beginning to rise when I found myself sitting at the kitchen table, staring at my coffee cup that was slowly losing its warmth. The nervousness I had been suppressing since yesterday began to surface."Come on, De Cruz. You gave a seminar in front of dozens of people yesterday—how can this make you panic?" I muttered to myself."Talking to yourself again?" Elle appeared from the hallway wearing an oversized T-shirt that read I'm Not a Morning Person. Ironically, she looked like a runway model's morning version—her blonde hair artfully messy, with traces of yesterday's eyeliner giving her a dramatic flair."Are you ready for today?" she asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.I shrugged. "I don't know... I just feel like I shouldn't—""Stop right there," Elle interrupted, pointing at me with a teaspoon. "You're beautiful, talented, and you have a face that could make men forget their own names. So use that confidence.""I'm not that pret
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I stood in front of the auditorium, gripping the remote for my slide presentation tightly. The room was fuller than I had expected. Faces of students from various majors filled the rows of seats—some looked serious, others were whispering, either about me or about what they had for lunch. But I didn’t care. I had spent days preparing this material, and I knew exactly what I was doing."Good morning, everyone," my voice rang out clearly, steady—far more confident than I actually felt. "I’m Maya De Cruz, from the visual design department. Today, I’ll be talking about how design influences spatial perception—and why this matters, not just for us designers, but for all of you studying architecture, engineering, even business."I pressed the button on the remote, displaying the first slide: "The Psychology of Space.""Every room has a story," I continued. "And that story begins with how we perceive the space. Imagine walking into a small café with dim lighting, exposed brick walls, and the
Stealing My Sister's Fiancee LIV : Trouble, Trouble, Trouble
Aaric tensed for a moment, then slowly turned, the corner of his lips still curled upward. A faint red mark was beginning to form on his cheek, but what irritated me the most was his smile—the victorious one, as if he knew I would react like this."Wow," he said in a lazy tone that made me want to slap him again. "You know, I didn’t take you for the violent type.""I didn’t take you for the type who doesn’t know when to shut up," I shot back, grabbing my notes and hurriedly packing up my things.He didn’t stop me—of course, he wouldn’t. That wasn’t his style. Aaric Bernardi never tried to hold people back; he preferred to make them come back on their own. And I knew he thought I would do the same.As I turned to leave, he spoke again. "Don’t take it too seriously, De Cruz," he said. "But if you need a partner to practice for the seminar, I can help. You know where to find me."I paused for a moment at the doorway, glancing back. "Thanks," I said flatly. "But I’d rather practice with a
Stealing My Sister's Fiancee LIII : Leather Jackets and Loose Lips
As soon as class was dismissed, I grabbed my sketchbook and started slipping it into my bag. Margo was already standing beside me, arms crossed over her chest, her expression full of curiosity ready to explode.“So,” she said in her usual dramatic tone, “if you’re not interested in auditioning, why did you bother taking Film Theory?”I zipped my bag shut with a sharp motion. “Because I like movies, Margo.”“Bullshit.” She arched an eyebrow sharply. “You want to be an actress, don’t you?”I let out a short chuckle, trying to ignore the sudden heat creeping up my face. “When I was a kid, yeah. But now I don’t—”“You’re lying,” she cut in quickly. “I know you love acting. You love attention.” She pointed at the whiteboard where I had just drawn. “You were acting just now, Maya! Like you knew everything about architecture.”“That’s because I do.”Margo let out a long sigh, then threw her hands up in frustration. “You’re seriously wasting your potential.”I turned on my heel and walked out
Stealing My Sister's Fiancee LII : Doodles & Distractions
That morning started peacefully—for the first five minutes.I sat at the kitchen table, letting the scent of freshly brewed coffee fill my nose. My favorite ceramic mug felt warm in my hands, and each sip I took was like a small gift to myself. The morning sun slipped through the gaps in the curtains, casting golden patterns on the table.Then came the noise.“JOY! I’M NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN! IF YOU DON’T WAKE UP IN FIVE SECONDS, I’M GOING TO DRENCH YOU!”I let out a long sigh and stared sadly at my coffee cup. My brief moment of peace was over.The sound of a door slamming was followed by Elle’s hurried footsteps. Her hair was a mess, half pulled up with a clip that was barely holding on. Her pajamas—a loose shirt with a lazy cat printed on it—were wrinkled on one side, as if she had just wrestled with her bed.“She won’t wake up!” Elle shouted as she grabbed an empty glass from the table and filled it with water.“I know.” I lifted my coffee cup calmly. “You don’t have to kill he
